Notice

Shannon Elizabeth McBride, 42

by contributor

20 January, 2013

Shannon Elizabeth McBride, 42, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2013 surrounded by her loving family. Shannon was a true inspiration to all who knew her, full of grace, compassion and deep love. Despite her many medical challenges, she had an undeniable zest for life. She graduated from Lasell College with a degree in Early Childhood Education, and was an educator in every sense. Whether it was helping raise children, speaking in the medical community, or teaching us all how to see the beauty of life, Shannon used her life experiences as a means to help others.

Throughout Shannon’s life, she was instrumental in helping to raise children in a number of families. Most recently, Shannon spent her days caring for her nephew and niece, Michael and Molly.

At the age of 4 ½, Shannon was diagnosed with leukemia and received a bone marrow transplant at the age of 9. Later in life she required a lung transplant due to the effects of radiation. Despite the many challenges that these illnesses created, Shannon always celebrated the gift of life. She impacted numerous people, from doctors and medical students, to philanthropists and high school students, teaching them about living life fully as a cancer survivor.

Shannon is survived by her loving parents Mary McBride (Bill Moscarelli), and Michael McBride (JuneAnn White), her sister, Katie Crandall-McBride (Michelle), her brothers, Shane McBride and Jamie McBride (Susan), and many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. She will always remain “Auntie” to not only Michael and Molly, but also her newest niece, Lucy.

Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, January 22 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church Street, Hopkinton . A funeral service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society in Westborough on Wednesday January 23, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Boston Ronald McDonald House.